Six teams from seven different Milpitas Unified School District schools earned awards at this year’s 38th Annual Tech Challenge Final Showcase, which took place May 3-4 in San Jose. More than 600 teams of 4th-12th grade students put their creative solutions and engineering journals to the test in front of judges. MUSD Tech Challenge winners were:
This year's challenge, coined “Gravitate to Navigate,” was to build a gravity-powered vehicle that could traverse multiple tracks of increasing difficulty. Each team was required to build a single gravity powered device to complete four successful runs while carrying a tennis ball payload.Teams were judged in equal parts on the performance of their device, the quality of their engineering journal, and an interview with judges. “This weekend was a celebration of innovation, resilience, and teamwork,” said Abby Longcor, Senior Director of The Tech Challenge in a press release. “Every team showed us that with creativity and determination, young people can tackle even the most complex challenges. Our hope is that The Tech Challenge gives participants the confidence, skills, and passion to pursue future studies or careers in science, engineering, and beyond.”
With 30 students signed up and actively participating, the Zanker Elementary School GirlStart program flourished during the 2024-25 school year. Girlstart’s mission is to empower girls to explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through fun, hands-on learning experiences. The program engages students in nationally recognized informal STEM education activities designed to spark interest, deepen understanding, and build confidence. Throughout the program, two GirlStart leaders cultivated a culture where risk is rewarded, curiosity is encouraged, and creativity is expected. Some of the STEM careers the girls explored during their time in GirlStart, along with the hands-on activities that brought them to life:
"We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, creativity, and critical thinking our girls demonstrated throughout the GirlStart program," said Zanker's GirlStart advisor Jennifer Hinojosa. "Their engagement is a strong indicator of the growing interest in STEM among young girls (which is all we ask for!). We are excited to see how this momentum continues to build in the years to come. With such a strong foundation and continued support, the future of the program, and the future of these aspiring engineers and scientists, is bright."  By Mia Gittlen
MHS Librarian The Milpitas HS Library recently hosted two special author events which helped promote a culture of literacy and elevate reading, researching, writing, creating, and storytelling. Nicole Steward, our very own MUSD Social Worker, shared an overview of her new book, Radical Self-Care. This after school event, which was attended by MHS and MUSD staff, School Board Members, and parents, was well-received. Her message about how and why to cultivate radical self-care resonates deeply. As a result of the overwhelming interest in her book, we are offering her book as this year’s MUSD summer read. All MUSD staff are invited to read Nicole’s book, engage in our Radical Self-Care Google Classroom online discussion (join code: bbiujofl), and/or attend a session led by Nicole at the beginning of the school year. This is all optional and any participating staff may choose the level of involvement they are comfortable with. Thien Pham, an award-winning graphic novelist who grew up in Milpitas, also visited MHS last month. His graphic novel memoir Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam is popular among both students and staff. Thien’s visit included speaking to hundreds of students during an assembly held in the Theater, meeting dozens of students and staff during a luncheon co-hosted by the MHS Book Club and our Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), and leading an interactive comics workshop in the Library. Dozens of students and staff obtained signed copies of his book. All who interacted with Thien appreciated hearing his inspirational story. These activities are just two of the many programs initiated in the MHS Library this year. Next up: the MHS Library is launching a Summer Reading BINGO challenge which will run from June 1st - September 1st. All students, staff, and their families are encouraged to participate and enjoy fun reading in the sun this summer! As always, please check out everything available at the MHS Library–which is also home to our College and Careet Center! We are open weekdays from 7:45 AM - 4:45 PM. Become a Friend of the MHS Library. Follow us on Instagram. Reach out to the Librarian Mia Gittlen at [email protected] with any questions or ideas!  In honor of AAPI Awareness month this May, the APIDA Community (est. 2024-2025) is proud to launch our website (https://sites.google.com/musd.org/aplus/home) designed to celebrate and empower the diverse identities, cultures, and histories of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi Americans through education, advocacy, and community-building.
We are developing programs that will amplify voices and promote understanding while fostering personal, academic, and professional growth. For aspiring Asian American educators interested in an admin or manager role, our year-long APIDA Mentorship Program will pair emerging leaders with experienced principals and administrators, providing guidance, professional development, and networking to support advancement into educational leadership roles. Additionally, high school students passionate about teaching can join our APIDA Education Mentorship Program, which will offer mentorship, potential scholarships, hands-on learning, and networking opportunities to explore careers in education. Coming soon, our Resources section, focusing on education and advocacy, will feature blogs and articles on cultural awareness, social justice, and community news, along with webinars, workshops, and anti-racism resources designed to promote inclusivity and empower our community. In the coming year, we will also actively seek partnerships with local APIDA businesses, restaurants, and organizations to strengthen community ties and create collaborative opportunities that uplift and support our vibrant APIDA community right here in Milpitas!  MUSD School Linked Services Coordinator Nicole Steward draws from her own experiences and training in handling trauma to share coping and decompression mechanisms in her new book, “Radical Self-Care for Helpers, Healers and Changemakers”.
“Radical Self Care are practices that help us carry the weight of the work that we do,” said Steward, who has experienced burnout herself over her 20-plus year career but has learned how to compartmentalize work trauma from her personal life. “We can care without carrying. We can care for the people we serve, but we don’t have to carry the weight of their trauma.” Steward explains who the helpers, healers and change-makers are ranging from social workers, counselors and therapists to first responders and those serving in the military. “Educators, they pull into that too, because when you’re working with people, especially kids, there’s gonna be some level of trauma,” Steward added. Anyone dealing with “one-way, people-focused trauma-adjacent kind of work,” as she puts it, will benefit from her radical self-care methods and rituals. “That has an impact on our bodies and our nervous system, and those of us who do this work regularly need something a little bit deeper than maybe commercial self-care.” Steward has morning and afternoon daily routines that ease her into and out of her work day as well as allow her to perform effectively in helping others through their trauma. Meditation, breath work and yoga are all part of the radical self-care, along with finding ways to regulate and rebalance by getting out into nature, connecting with other people, walking, and “ways to buffer the vicarious trauma and the stress of the work that we do as helpers, healers and change-makers.” With more than two decades of social work experience, Steward spent the last three years putting her radical-care practice on paper to share and help others help themselves and continue the good work. “We have to be more regulated than those we serve because we do what is called ‘co-regulation,’” added Steward, who tells her readers to pay attention to work-life balance and have solid boundaries to avoid burnout. Before she heads into her office at Milpitas High School, Steward practices what she preaches by taking a deep breath and thinking about three things that she wants to get done that day. “If I get these three things done, I’ll be happy,” she noted. After her workday ends, Steward goes home and waters her plants to unwind before transitioning into the weekend. “If you’re a caring human being, it’s going to impact your heart,” Steward said. “Radical self-care is meant to help the helpers.”
The Rancho Quiz team, comprised of Tejus Karadi, Stavya Dangaria, Shreya Ram, Parth Baheti and Purab Patel, qualified for the 2025 Middle School National Championship Tournament (MSNCT) Quiz Bowl Nationals, which will take place May 9-11 in Chicago, IL.
The team's qualification came through impressive performances in various tournaments organized by Texas Quiz Bowl Alliance (TQBA) held between October 2024 and January 2025, where they secured 2nd and 3rd place finishes. The MSNCT is NAQT's premier middle school event, featuring 160 of the top quiz bowl teams from across the United States. In addition to their quiz bowl success, the team participated in the Science Bowl regional tournament hosted by SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Palo Alto. The U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored event provided the students with a unique opportunity to not only compete exclusively in science but also to tour SLAC, an active research facility, offering valuable exposure to cutting-edge scientific research. Five Milpitas Unified School District teams representing Curtner, Burnett and Sinnott Elementary Schools, as well as Russell Middle School and Milpitas High School, advanced to the World Finals of a creative, problem-solving competition known as Odyssey of the Mind.
The competition teaches students how to develop and use their natural creativity to become problem-solvers. Teams are faced with a problem that requires an original solution. Students apply what they learn in the classroom and combine it with their interests and passions to solve unique open-ended problems. Sixteen MUSD teams participated in the Odyssey of the Mind Qualifying Tournament, including five student teams that qualified for the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Michigan State University from May 21-24, representing Northern California on the world stage. Those teams are:
Click to learn more about these MUSD Odyssey of the Mind teams MHS freshman Eunice Lee qualifies for U.S. National Jump Rope Team, forms MHS Trojan Ropers club2/25/2025
 Milpitas High School freshman jump rope phenom Eunice Lee is back at it, as the 5-time National Champion qualified to be on the U.S. National Jump Rope Team and compete in the 2025 World Championship in Kawasaki, Japan in July.
Earlier this month en route to the 2025 U.S. National Team Trials in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Lee’s flight was delayed due to snow in Chicago and she did not arrive to her destination until 1 a.m., which left her only four hours of rest before the competition. “Jump rope is a battle of mental strength, so I pushed myself to ignore the exhaustion and focus on the task ahead,” shared Lee, who won the 3-minute speed endurance competition with 481 jumps counting only the right foot and was qualified to compete for that event as well as the 4x30 second speed sprint relay and 2x30 second double unders relay with other National Team members in the 2025 World Championships. Click to support Lee in her journey Sharing her passion with others, Lee formed the first jump rope club at Milpitas HS last month, called MHS Trojan Ropers. It is a recreational jump rope club that also trains for performances at school with 20 students. Five Milpitas Unified School District scholars crowned champions at IAC academic competitions2/25/2025
Five Milpitas Unified School District students–two from Sinnott Elementary School and three from Rancho Milpitas Middle School–were crowned champions at the International Academic Competitions (IAC) Geography, History, and Science Northern California Regional Bees.
Competing against one of the largest in-person regional competition fields in IAC history, Sinnott 5th grader Tara Karadi won the Geography and Science Bees, and fellow 5th grader Adhya Dangaria took first place in the History Bee. Meanwhile, Rancho 8th grader Tejus Karadi finished first in the Geography Bee, and 8th grader Parth Baheti and 7th grader Shreya Ram each won their respective grade level Science Bees. The competition, held January 18th in Fremont, was the first of three in-person opportunities for students to qualify for the Elementary-Middle School (EMS) National Bees, scheduled for May 22-26, 2025, in Orlando, FL. Students are challenged to decode questions and master quick buzzing techniques. Tara Karadi added a third-place finish in the History Bee; Dangaria also placed second in the Science Bee; and Tejus Karadi was second in the History Bee and fourth in the Science Bee. “This competition provided students with valuable experience in academic challenges, helping them refine their ability to decode complex questions and respond quickly under pressure,” shared coach Padma Subbaraya. “Their success reflects their dedication, preparation, and academic excellence. …These results not only bring pride to their schools but also secure their spots at the upcoming Bees Nationals in Orlando, FL.” Click for Middle & Elementary School Regional Results – IAC – US Division
 Milpitas High School’s Technology Student Association (TSA) club scored two first, one second and two third-place marks in recent STEM and Leadership competitions at Mountain House High School in a field of nearly 200 students from Harker, Saratoga, Evergreen Valley, and other participating schools.
The MHS team claimed first place in video game design for the second year in a row and first place for the drone/UAV challenge, where they built a custom drone from scratch with a camera and a claw. Additionally, the club placed second in the coding test, third in digital video production, and third in video game design. The MHS team, which started in the 2023-24 school year by TSA founder and president Vasista Ramachandruni, qualified for the National TSA Conference this summer in Nashville, TN, and will represent Milpitas on a national level. Team members include Vasista, Eshan Gupta, Toshan Gupta, Shashank Chamarty, Shivcharanraju Anga, Jeremiah de Guzman, Jericho de Guzman, Rushil Wadhwani, Nihal Kadamba, Amogh Nagre, Harish Manukonda, Swayam Shukla, Oliver Ma, Spencer Tran, Ethan Hui, and Sriram Sivakumar. In a previous 70-team statewide competition, the MHS team finished third in the state for the build challenge of the Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science. |
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The governing board of Milpitas Unified School District will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Media ResourcesArchives
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